Tubular lock



M.v M. CHECK TUBULAR Loox Feb. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 2'?, 1956 Fbqs, 1959 M, M CHECK 2,872,236

TUBULAR LOCK v Filed Deo. 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY M. M. CHECK Feb. 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ed Deo. 27, 1956 INVENTOR. /Wa/'mf M. ef//T BY ATTOR/Vfy are TUBULAR LocK Mathias M. Check, Valley Forge, Pa., assigner to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of `Ctmnecticut Application December 27, 1956, Serial No. 630,873

Claima (Cl. 292-336.211)

This invention relates to a tubular lock of the type in which a single spindle is rotated by an inside and an outside knob to retract a latchbolt. In locks of the particular class there is frequently housed concentrically of the spindle a rotatably mounted locking rod that is adapted for rotation by a turn button carried by the inside knob. Upon rotation of the turn button and the locking rod the spindle is locked to one of the roses by the movement of a suitable detent or dog. Those skilled in the art fully appreciate that locks of the particular class cannot, once they are placed in locked condition, be lunlocked except by reverse rotation of the turn button. lt is extremely desirable that the unlocking action take place automatically upon rotation of the inside knob, but so far as I know, no effective means for accomplishing this have been devised in a lo'ck of the class described.

I have now conceived a construction whereby the inside knob may release the locking mechanism and then retract the latchbolt, all preferably through one turnin movement.

Thus, as a feature of my invention I provide a locking dog or detent that is moved into locking position by rotation of the locking rod `by its turn button. This locks the spindle and the outside knob against rotation. The inside knob has a lost motion connection with the spindle so that it may rotate freely relatively to the spindle for a short distance. Means are provided between the locking rod and the inside knob so that the rotation of the inside knob to take up the distance provided by the lost motion, rotates the locking rod to release the detent or dog from locking position. In this way there is contributed by me an extremely desirable action.

As a further feature of my invention, I secure my spindle to the outside knob in a novel fashion, and means are then provided between the spindle and the locking rod whereby the locking rod is retained against endwise movement relatively to the spindle. As a further more particular feature of this part of the invention, the retaining means are in the form of a spring that serves to maintain the locking -rod yieldingly in the position to which it is rotated by the turn button. In other words, the retaining means for the locking rod have a dual function.

As a still further feature of my invention, the turn button is retained relatively to the inside knob by novel means that make possible the ready assembly of the turn button to the locking rod as the inside and outside knobs and their roses are assembled.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more imp ortant features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better under- 2,872,235 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 stood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. it is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art. ln the drawings: Fig. l is a longitudinal section showing my novel lock. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are cross-sections on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, ill-ustrating the movements of the locking rod and detent.

Figs. 5 and 6 show in detail the spindle and locking rod. Fig. v7 shows the inside knob insert. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l. Referring now more particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, l utilize in my novel lock construction an outside knob assembly that includes a knob 10 and a rose 11. The knob 10 has as an integral part thereof an insert 12 that may very well be die cast, and that is formed with a groove for a snap ring 13 through which the knob is assembled to rotate on the rose 11, as is usual in locks of the particular class.

I further form the knob insert 12 with a bore 14 that acts as a bearing for the outer end portion of a locking rod 15 that I shall describe in due course. The insert 12 has also an arcuate slot 16 for the outer end of an arcuate knob spindle 17 that is concentric with locking u rod 15, as may be seen in Figs. l and 2. As shown in i relatively to the outside knob 1b. Spindle 17 by its position in slot 16 will then rotate integrally with that knob.

I yntilize also an inside knob assembly that includes a knob 19 and a rose 20. The knob 19 is equipped with an insert 21 that is grooved to accept a snap ring 22 whereby to assemble the knob 19 to rose 2t) in the same manner as the outside knob 10 is assembled to its rose. The inside knob assembly including knob 19 and rose Ztl is assembled relatively to the outside rose 11 through screws 24a that coact with threaded studs 25 on the outside rose 11, as is rather usual in locks of the particular class. As will be understood, the studs 25 may be utilized for assembling a latch case 26 to the lock, with the spindle 17 positioned relatively to that case for operating latchbolt mechanism in the case.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, the inside knob insert 21 is vformed somewhat like outside insert 12, with a bore 23 acting as a bearing for the locking rod 15, and an arcuate groove 24 for the inner end of spindle 17. To understand my invention, however, it is extremely important to observe that the arcuate groove 24 on the inside knob insert is considerably larger than the spindle 17, so that one end or the other of groove 24 will lie in spaced relation to spindle 17. This enables the inside knob 19 to rotate the spindle 17 while contributing a lost motion between that knob and spindle. For reasons 3 that will appear, I equip insert 21 with an arm 41, Figs. 1, 7, and 8, that extends longitudinally at the side of locking rod 15. Because of the lost motion, it will be appreciated that the inside knob 19 can rotate the arm 41 somewhat when the spindle 17 and outside knob are locked.

I shall now call attention to the fact that I utilize for locking the outside knob 10 a detent 27 that is best seen in Figs. 2 to 4. To mount the detent 27, I prefer to utilize a pivot 28 that is supported on a plate 29. The plate 29 is formed with an opening 3i? for the locking rod 15, that opening having at one side an arcuate enlargement 31 that tits spindle 17 so that plate 29 will rotate integrally with the spindle. As best seen in Fig. 5, the spindle 17 is formed with shoulders 32 that lie against the plate 29 when the spindle is in assembled position, thus holding the plate .relatively to the outside knob insert 12. Through that arrangement, the detent 27 is mounted to rotate with the outside knob 10, and also can pivot in a radial direction relatively to the knob axis on the pin 28. On the outer edge of detent 27 I form a notch 33 whereby the detent 27 by rotating on its pivot 28 can enter into clogging relation to one stud 25 on outside rose 11, thus locking the outside knob 1) against rotation relatively to that rose.

On the inner edge of detent 27 I form a cam surface 34, and also a projection 35, as is Well shown in Fig. 2. I utilize on the locking rod a lug 36 that is adapted to coact with thc cam surface 34 and with projection 35 on detent 27. When rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, the locking rod 15 will act through its lug 36 to rotate detent 27 on pivot 2S to clogging position. When rotated counter-clockwise, as in Fig. 3, locking rod 15 will release detent 27, and upon continued rotation will act against projection 35 to move detent 27 inwardly away from stud 25 as shown in Fig. 4, so that the outside knob 10 and spindle 17 will then be free to rotate.

As an important part of my invention, I utilize a spring 37, Figs. 1 to 4, that coacts with locking rod 15 in an extremely novel way. To understand the action of spring 37, it should be observed first that I form opposed edges of the spindle 17 with slots 38, best seen in Fig. 5, that accept opposed end portions of spring 37. When assembled relatively to slots 33, the spring 37 will lie with its medial part within the arc of spindle 17, as is well shown in Figs. 2 to 4. On the locking rod 15 I form a cam portion 39 to coact with the medial part of spring 37, the arrangement being `such that the spring 37 will press against cam portion 39 to rotate the locking rod 15 either to locking position as shown in Fig. 2, or to release position as shown in Fig. 4. ln addition, I form locking rod 15 With an angular slot 40 extending at opposed sides of cam portion 39, so that the spring 37 by its engagement in that slot will hold locking rod 15 against endwise movement relatively to spindle 17. Naturally, with rod 15 so held, and with spindle 17 assembled to the outside knob 19, the locking rod will normally be a part of the outside knob assembly. It will thus `be seen that I assemble the locking rod 15 through means that are extremely simple, and that will also be etective to control the rotating movements of the rod.

I have already referred to the arm 41 that extends longitudinally at one side of the locking rod 15, Figs. 1, 7, and 8. This arm 41 is adapted to coact with a lug 42 that I form on the locking rod. The arrangement is such that, with the locking rod 15 in locking position, shown in Fig. 2, the lug 42 will be juxtaposed to the'arm 41, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. Therefore, with the spindle 17 locked, the lost motion that is provided by the slot 24 in the inside knob insert will enable inside knob 19 to rotate a suflicient distance so that the arm 41 will rotate the lug 42. That rotation of lug 42 will move the cam projection 39 on locking rod 15 past the dead center position shown in Fig. 3, so that spring 37 will move rod 15 to full release position, shown in Fig. 4. The very considerable value of this arrangement will be better appreciated when it is realized that the release movement I have described will be achieved merely through a rotation of the inside knob 19. Thus it is possible, merely through one continuous rotation of the inside knob 19, to unlock the outside knob 10 and to retract the latchbolt.

Of course, the outside knob will be locked simply by rotating the locking rod 15 in the opposed direction, as is customary. I have not thus far referred to means for imparting this locking rotation to rod 15, since conventional means may be utilized for that purpose. I do prefer, however, to equip the inside knob 19 with a novel turn button for rotating the rod 15. As is well shown in Fig. 1, I utilize as a part of that turn button a square sleeve 43 that is adapted to slide longitudinally on a square portion 44 of locking rod 15 when inside knob 19 moves to assembled position. The sleeve 43 rotates in an opening in the knob 19, and is formed with a shoulder 4 6 in opposed relation to the outer knob surface. I assemble the turn button 45 to knob 19 through lugs 47 on the sleeve 43. Those lugs 47 are initially formed to pass through the opening of the knob, and are deformed outwardly into opposed relation to the inner surface ofthe knob through the insertion of a tool through the square sleeve 43. Thereby the turn `button 45 actually forms a part of the inside knob assembly, 4and is assembled to locking rod 15 when inside knob 19 is assembled to spindle 17.

I believe that those persons skilled in the art will now understand that I have contributed extremely novel means for controlling an outside knob in a tubular lock. Through my invention, I am able to achieve automatic unlocking of the outside knob while utilizing but a single spindle for both inside and outside knobs. This I do through means that are exceedingly effective, yet very simple and easy to assemble. I believe, therefore, that the very considerable merits of my invention will be fully appreciated.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, `an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means securing said knob to said rose for rotation thereon and against endwise removal therefrom, a spindle extending in to said knob for integral rotation therewith relatively to said outside rose, a detent extending between said knob and rose, a locking rod mounted for rotation relatively to said spindle, means whereby rotation of said locking rod in one direction moves said detent to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation relatively to said outside rose, an inside knob, said inside knob having an opening for receiving said spindle, one end of said opening being spaced from said spindle whereby to allow limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle, a turn button for said locking rod extending outwardly of said inside knob and through which said rod is rotatable in said one direction to lock the outside knob and spindle to said outside rose, and means carried by said inside knob adapted when rotated freely of said spindle for rotating said rod in the opposed direction to release the spindle from said locking means.

2. In a lock of the class described, an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means securing said knob to said rose for rotation thereon and against endwise removal therefrom, an inside knob, an

d arcuate spindle extending into both said knobs and xed to said outside knob for rotation integrally therewith, a detent rotatable with said outside knob and spindle, a locking rod mounted on said knobs for rotation concentrically of said spindle, a spring lying within the arc of said spindle and secured at its opposed ends to said spindle 0 to prevent endwise movement of said spring relatively to said spindle, said knobs holding la part of said rod against said spring, said rod and spring being shaped so that said spring prevents sliding of the rod relatively thereto while also yieldingly holding said rod against rotation from opposed positions, means whereby rotation of said locking rod in one direction moves said detent into locked relation to said outside rose to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation, means whereby said inside knob rotates said spindle through lazy action means that allow limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle, a turn button for said locking rod extending outwardly of said inside knob and through which said rod is rotatable in said one direction to lock the outside knob and spindle, means whereby rotation of said inside knob in the opposed direction freely of said spindle because of said lazy action means rotates said rod in the opposed direction to release the spindle from said locking means, and the continued rotation of said inside knob rotating said spindle therewith.

3. In a lock of the class described, an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means securing said knob to said rose for rotation thereon and against endwise removal therefrom, an inside knob, an arcuate spindle extending into both said knobs for rotation therewith, the end of said arcuate spindle within the said outside knob being deformed to prevent removal of the spindle, a detent rotatable with said outside knob and spindle, a locking rod mounted for rotation concentrically of said spindle and also extending into said knobs for rotation relatively thereto, a pair of slots formed on the edges of said spindle, a spring lying within the arc of said spindle and having its opposed ends in said slots to prevent endwise movement of said spring relatively to said spindle, said knobs holding a part of said rod against said spring, said rod and spring being shaped so that said spring prevents sliding of the rod relatively thereto while also yieldingly holding said rod against rotation from opposed positions, means whereby rotation of said locking rod in one direction moves said detent into Ilocked relation to said outside rose to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation, means whereby said inside knob rotates said spindle through lazy action means that allow limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle, a turn button for said locking rod eX- tending outwardly of said inside knob and through which said rod is rotatable in said one direction to lock the outside knob and spindle, and means whereby rotation of said inside knob in the opposed direction freely of said spindle because of said lazy action means rotates said rod in the opposed direction to release the spindle from said locking means.

4. In a lock of the class described, an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means securing said knob to said rose for rotation thereon and against endwise removal therefrom, an inside knob, an arcuate'spindle extending into arcuate slots in both said knobs for rotation therewith, the end of said arcuate spindle within the said outside knob being deformed to secure the spindle to the outside knob, a detent rotatable with said outside knob and spindle, a locking rod mounted for rotation in said knobs concentrically of said spindle, means whereby rotation of said locking rod in one direction moves said detent into locked relation to said outside rose to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation, the arcuate slot of said inside knob being larger than said spindle so as to allow limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle, a turn button for said locking rod extending outwardly of said inside knob and through which said rod is rotatable in said one direction to lock the outside knob and spindle, the rst rotation of said inside knob in the opposed direction freely of said spindle because of said limited free rotation rotating said rod in the opposed direction to release the spindle from said locking means, and continued rotation of said inside knob rotating said spindle.

5. In a lock of the class described, an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means mounting said knob on said rose for rotation, a spindle secured to said knob for rotation therewith relatively to said rose, a detent, a locking rod mounted for rotation relatively to said spindle, means whereby rotation of said locking rod moves said detent into and out of locked relation to said' outside rose to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation and to release said spindle and outside knob, an inside knob, a lost motion connection between said spindle and said inside knob that allows limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle and thereafter rotates said spindle with said inside knob, a turn button for said locking rod through which said rod is rotated to lock the outside knob and spindle, and means whereby rotation of said inside knob freely of said spindle because of said lost motion connection rotates said rod to release said spindle from said locking means.

6. In a lock of the class described, an outside knob assembly including an outside rose and a knob and means securing said knob on said rose for rotation thereon and against endwise removal therefrom, a spindle extending into said knob for integral rotation therewith relatively to said outside rose, a detent extending between said knob and rose, a locking rod mounted for rotation relatively to said spindle, means whereby rotation of said locking rod in one direction moves said detent to lock said spindle and outside knob against rotation relatively to said outside rose, an inside knob, a lost motion connection between said spindle and said inside knob that allows limited free rotation of said inside knob relatively to said spindle and thereafter rotates said spindle with said inside knob, a turn button for said locking rod extending outwardly of said inside knob and through which said rod is rotatable in said one direction to lock the outside knob and spindle to said outside rose, and means carried by said inside knob adapted when rotated freely of said spindle through said lost motion connection for rotating said rod in the opposed direction to release the spindle from said locking means.

7. In a lock of the class described, a single spindle,4

an outside knob rotatable integrally with said spindle, an inside knob, lost motion means whereby said inside knob rotates freely of said spindle for a limited degree and thereafter rotates said spindle, a locking rod rotatable relatively to said spindle and said inside knob, a turn button connected to said locking rod for effecting rotation thereof relatively to said spindle and said inside knob to lock said spindle, and means whereby rotation of said inside knob freely of said spindle because of said lost motion means rotates said rod to release the spindle from said locking means, while continued rotation of said inside knob rotates said spindle and outside knob.

8. ln a lock of the class described, a single latchboltretracting spindle, an outside knob rotatable integrally with said spindle, an inside knob, lost motion means whereby said inside knob rotates freely of said spindle for a limited degree and thereafter rotates said spindle, a locking rod rotatable relatively to said spindle and said inside knob, a turn button connected to said locking rod for effecting rotation thereof relatively to said spindle and said inside knob, means whereby rotation of said turn button and locking rod locks said spindle and outside knob against rotation, and means whereby rotation of said inside knob freely of said spindle because of said lost motion means rotates said rod to release the spindle from said locking means, while continued rotation of said inside knob rotates said spindle and outside knob.

' 9. In a lcck of the class described, a single spindle, an outside knob rotatable integrally with said spindle, an inside knob, lost motion means whereby said inside knob rotates freely of said spindle for a limited degree and thereafter rotates said spindle, a locking rod mounted for rotation relatively to said spindle and equipped with a turn button extending outwardly of said inside knob, means whereby rotation of said turn button and iockiug rod locks said spindle, and means whereby rotation of said inside knob freely of said spindle because of Said lost motion means releases said spindle from said locking means.

10. In a, lock of the class described, latchbolt retracting spindle means, an outside knob rotatable integrally with said spindle means, an inside knob, lost motion means whereby said inside knob rotates freely of said spindle means for a limited degree and thereafter rotates said Spindle means and outside knob in a latchbolt retracting direction, a locking rod mounted for rotation relatively to said spindle means and equipped with a turn button extending outwardly of said inside knob, means whereby rotation of said turn button and locking rod locks said spindle means and outside knob against rotation, and means whereby the limited rotation of said inside knob freely of said spindle means because of said lost motion means, rotates said locking rod to release said spindle means from said locking means.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

